Like We Already Lived Together

Qin Jianhe was still in his formal suit, hadn’t even had time to change, his tie still knotted neatly. Ye Zhiqiu glanced at him and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Go change and wash your hands,” he said, his eyes crinkling. “And while you’re at it, clear away the nutshells I left on the dining table.”

He tugged playfully at Qin Jianhe’s tie, barely suppressing the urge to pull him down for another kiss.

“Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Okay.” Qin Jianhe’s eyes were full of laughter.

Only after Ye Zhiqiu let go of his tie did he reach out, ruffle his soft hair, and head out of the kitchen.

The noodle soup was very light. Ye Zhiqiu added a touch of sesame oil and some chopped scallions at the end, and the kitchen immediately filled with a subtle, pleasant fragrance.

He turned off the heat, portioned the noodles into two bowls, and carried them to the table.

Then he took out some leftover spiced beef from the refrigerator, sliced it, and mixed it with shredded scallions and a few seasonings to make a small side dish, placing it between the two bowls.

When he came back out after putting away his apron, Qin Jianhe had already changed.

Not completely changed, just loosened his tie and removed his jacket.

In a milk tea-colored V-neck cashmere sweater, the buttons of his white shirt underneath casually undone…

A very simple change, but it softened his aloof, elite demeanor, giving him a warmer, more domestic feel.

Seeing the bowls and chopsticks already neatly arranged on the table, along with the extra side dish, Qin Jianhe’s eyes crinkled with a smile.

“So fast?” he asked.

“Mm.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled. “It wasn’t much work. The beef was already braised.”

Qin Jianhe didn’t say anything more. He came over, took Ye Zhiqiu’s hand, and they sat down on opposite sides of the table.

But when he saw the knife work on the spiced beef, he instinctively glanced at Ye Zhiqiu.

Every slice was perfectly uniform, thin as a cicada’s wing.

Such knife skills couldn’t be developed without at least five years of dedication in the kitchen.

And such knife skills…

Shouldn’t belong to a young kid like Ye Zhiqiu.

Qin Jianhe silently counted back five years.

Five years ago, Ye Zhiqiu had been only fourteen.

Not to mention a family like the Ye’s, even in the most ordinary households, there were almost no children that age cooking.

Besides, he had recently done some research into the Ye family’s home environment.

Although Tao Ruoqing played many little tricks on Ye Zhiqiu, they were all psychological and emotional.

And one of the auxiliary methods to corrode the spirit was material indulgence.

So Ye Zhiqiu had never truly suffered materially.

Let alone the fact that the Ye family always had drivers and domestic help; it would never fall to a child to cook.

So where had he developed such skill?

Was it related to the trauma he had experienced?

Qin Jianhe picked up a slice of beef and put it in his mouth without changing expression.

His own diet was simple, so his kitchen only stocked the most basic seasonings.

Yet the beef still had a faint, pleasant sweetness, tasting wonderful.

No less than the skill of some famous chefs at the hotels he had visited.

“Ye Zhiqiu,” Qin Jianhe called his name.

“Hm?” Ye Zhiqiu had just taken a bite of noodles and looked up.

One of his cheeks was bulging as he chewed, his eyes smiling.

Suddenly, Qin Jianhe couldn’t bring himself to ask anything.

This reunion was too precious.

Especially the smile in Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes, so clean, so pure.

Qin Jianhe pressed his lips together and didn’t speak for a moment.

The deep trauma in Ye Zhiqiu’s heart, where had it come from?

He didn’t know.

It seemed to have no roots, no connection to his nineteen years of life, as if it had appeared out of thin air in his heart.

Leaving him with no way to soothe it.

“What’s wrong?” Sensing something amiss, Ye Zhiqiu’s smile faded slightly. “Doesn’t it taste good?”

“No,” Qin Jianhe smiled. “It’s delicious.”

“I was just wondering if you rested well this afternoon.”

“I read comics in your study.” Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes curved again. He also added a slice of beef to his steaming bowl of noodles.

He was about to mention how comfortable Qin Jianhe’s chair was and that he wanted to buy one for his future workspace, when his slightly lowered lashes suddenly flickered.

The beef was sliced too perfectly.

Shopping for groceries, washing vegetables, cutting ingredients, cooking all kinds of dishes according to Qi Xin’s tastes and requests…

That had once constituted almost his entire life.

Although he hadn’t set foot in a kitchen in the months since his rebirth, years of habit and instinct still controlled him unconsciously.

He lowered his head, the shadows in his eyes deepening.

“I only have one set of manga in my study,” Qin Jianhe said, his tone gentle, almost as if coaxing a child.

“You can go up and read anytime, take a nap.”

Noticing his discomfort, Ye Zhiqiu breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

“I have some professional books at home, and some comics from when I was a kid,” he said.

“I can bring them over later, but I don’t need to put them in your study…”

He thought for a moment. “I can put them on the mobile shelf downstairs.”

Then he paused.

He was moving, yes, but not into Qin Jianhe’s apartment.

Even if he did bring his books and magazines, they should go to his own rented place.

Why did he…

It was as if he really wanted to live with Qin Jianhe.

Seeing him stumble, Qin Jianhe pressed his lips together, a rich smile rising in his eyes.

The little hiccup from earlier seemed never to have happened. The atmosphere warmed again.

Qin Jianhe usually ate sparingly, but today he had two bowls of Ye Zhiqiu’s plain noodles.

After the meal, Ye Zhiqiu watched Qin Jianhe clear the dishes while he wiped down the table.

His eyes fell on the rose specimen on the windowsill again, and he remembered something, smiling.

“Qin Jianhe,” he said. “I brought you a gift.”

“What is it?” Qin Jianhe asked.

“You’ll see.” Ye Zhiqiu went mysteriously to his suitcase.

Qin Jianhe smiled and carried the dishes to the kitchen.

When he came back out, Ye Zhiqiu was playing with a bright red rose.

“For you,” Ye Zhiqiu said, handing it to him. “You like roses, don’t you?”

Qin Jianhe didn’t say anything. He took it.

Only when it was in his hand did he notice it was a plastic rose.

“Hey, Ye Zhiqiu.” Qin Jianhe looked amused. “You’re palming me off?”

He stepped forward, put his hands on the back of Ye Zhiqiu’s chair, trapping him between himself and the chair, and leaned in.

“That’s going too far, Ye Zhiqiu.”

“Don’t want it?” Ye Zhiqiu looked up with a smile, reaching out his hand. “Give it back.”

But Qin Jianhe didn’t give it back. Instead, he hid the hand holding the rose behind his back.

“See,” Ye Zhiqiu said, triumphant. “You said you didn’t like it.”

Qin Jianhe just smiled. He found a pretty, short glass vase somewhere and placed it next to the framed rose specimen on the windowsill, putting the lifelike plastic rose inside.

“Qin Jianhe,” Ye Zhiqiu asked, looking at the framed rose, a little curious. “Was that rose given to you by someone you like?”

Qin Jianhe glanced at him, then answered softly, “Mm.”

“So then you…” Ye Zhiqiu gave him a meaningful wink.

Qin Jianhe understood immediately.

He was referring to his lack of experience.

“I liked them with my heart,” he said, tapping his chest. “Not with my lower body.”

“But you…” Ye Zhiqiu started, then stopped.

With Qin Jianhe’s advantages, so many people chased after him. How could there be someone he liked but couldn’t have?

But then again, love was something Ye Zhiqiu didn’t understand either.

What he thought he had in his past life wasn’t love at all, but a trap.

Strictly speaking, he had never truly experienced love.

“Anyway,” he changed the subject, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Putting my flower next to someone else’s feels a bit like you’re collecting them.”

“What, not allowed?” Qin Jianhe walked over, put his hands on the back of her chair again, and leaned in to kiss her.

“Ye Zhiqiu,” he asked, “not allowed?”

“Tch,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “I don’t have the right to control you.”

The next moment, Qin Jianhe bit his lip. It actually hurt.

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

“Damn, Qin Jianhe, are you a dog or something?” Ye Zhiqiu cursed, but his mouth was covered. “%……&*!”

The curses were all stifled. Ye Zhiqiu struggled for a while, but Qin Jianhe ruthlessly suppressed him every time.

When he finally calmed down, Qin Jianhe pulled back slightly. His breathing was a little ragged, his eyes dark as he looked at him.

“Let’s do it,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse, speaking his name intimately. “Ye Zhiqiu.”

Like his burning breath, the three syllables “Ye Zhiqiu” seemed to have been made hot by his voice.

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

He instinctively touched his ear.

Then he heard a very low laugh from above, extremely sexy.

Damn. The boss was indeed the boss. His savvy was advancing by leaps and bounds.

“Okay,” Ye Zhiqiu answered, dazed. Then he straightened up. “I’ll shower first.”

Seeing him stand, Qin Jianhe reached out and took his wrist.

“Together,” he said, his tone firm.

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

Another flood was coming.

“Don’t like it?” Seeing his silence, Qin Jianhe looked down at him.

“I love it~” Ye Zhiqiu deliberately drew out the word, half serious, half teasing. “As long as it’s with you, President Qin, I love it anywhere.”

For some reason, Qin Jianhe’s eyes darkened. He looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Forgetting that Qin Jianhe had everything, Ye Zhiqiu laughed and habitually opened his suitcase to get his toiletries.

Just as he lifted the lid, he laughed again.

He had almost forgotten in all the commotion.

He really had brought Qin Jianhe a gift.

But it wasn’t the plastic rose.

That rose was just a little prop to tease him.

Taking out the beautifully wrapped gift box, Ye Zhiqiu smiled and handed it over.

“President Qin, I brought you a gift.”

Qin Jianhe: “…”

Qin Jianhe pressed his lips together, but the smile in his eyes deepened.

He had already been very happy to receive the plastic rose.

He hadn’t expected to receive a second gift from Ye Zhiqiu in one day.

Taking the box, Qin Jianhe opened it.

Inside was a black and grey plaid tie, accompanied by a very distinctive tie clip, the end of which was set with a cat’s eye sized emerald.

Very elegant, very luxurious.

“Thank you.” Qin Jianhe had seen every kind of gift, but at this moment, holding this one in his hands, he couldn’t help looking down at it for a long time.

His thick lashes hid his expression, only a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.

“I like it very much,” Qin Jianhe said seriously and politely when he finally closed the box.

“I’m glad you like it.” Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes curved.

To be honest, he had really put thought into choosing Qin Jianhe’s gift.

After all, Qin Jianhe had Q.L., a high-end luxury brand, right under his hand. He was at the very top of the fashion pyramid. There probably wasn’t much he hadn’t seen. So this time, Ye Zhiqiu hadn’t dared to be too unconventional; he had deliberately played it safe.

That Qin Jianhe liked it made him feel especially satisfied.

Smiling, Ye Zhiqiu turned back to his suitcase.

But before he could even touch the lid, Qin Jianhe unexpectedly caught his wrist and pulled him into his arms.

“Stop looking,” he said, his voice rough with suppression and restraint. “They’ll just have to come off anyway.”

Ye Zhiqiu: “…”

He had been about to tease the man, but looking up into those dark eyes, he found himself speechless.

Qin Jianhe looked at him, his lowered eyes seeming to burn, reminding Ye Zhiqiu instinctively of a hungry, fierce wolf on the plains.

Any prey it spotted would be devoured completely.

The overwhelming pressure weighed on Ye Zhiqiu’s heart, making it race and making him want instinctively to pull away.

But Qin Jianhe’s grip on his wrist was like iron. Sensing his intention, he not only didn’t let go but pulled him even tighter against his chest.

Then he lowered his head and kissed him fiercely.

Truly fierce. It wasn’t long before Ye Zhiqiu tasted the faint irony of blood in his mouth.

“Ye Zhiqiu.” Qin Jianhe seemed to especially love saying his name.

Before he could answer, Qin Jianhe bent down, picked him up, kicked open the bedroom door, and carried him straight into the bathroom.

Wildness met wildness. As soon as the bathroom door closed, Ye Zhiqiu reached for Qin Jianhe’s belt.

The spray of water suddenly came down, a little hot. Ye Zhiqiu instinctively shrank back against Qin Jianhe’s chest, and then he was lifted by his buttocks and pressed firmly against the wall.

Their hair and lashes were instantly soaked. Two pairs of wet eyes stared intently at each other, neither giving ground.

Then Qin Jianhe kissed him again.

…

They went at it for over two hours.

When it was over, Qin Jianhe carried Ye Zhiqiu out wrapped in a bath towel. He laid him on the bed and pulled the towel away, and Ye Zhiqiu rolled out.

Really efficient. He really didn’t have to undress. Ye Zhiqiu thought as the cold air hit his skin for a moment.

He was exhausted, his mind foggy. His pale skin was flushed in the light, with faint finger marks on some sensitive areas.

Like a broken doll, completely limp.

He managed to gather a little strength to turn over, but Qin Jianhe suddenly reached out.

Then his hot palm pressed mercilessly against his pale back.

Qin Jianhe leaned over him, blocking out the cold air entirely.

His soft, hot lips kissed everywhere: his reddened, soft earlobes, his slender neck, his long fingers, a little limp from soaking too long in the tub…

He kissed everything.

That passion, like fire, completely ignited Ye Zhiqiu.

But in the light, Qin Jianhe’s eyes seemed very calm.

He looked down at Ye Zhiqiu with intense focus, as if trying to etch every expression, every movement, every soft gasp into his memory.

…

When it was all over, Qin Jianhe pulled Ye Zhiqiu into his arms.

He lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers. They smoked it together, taking turns.

It reminded Ye Zhiqiu of that WeChat post, visible only to Jiang Nan, and the caption he had written.

“Sharing a cigarette feels pretty good,” Ye Zhiqiu said, his voice already hoarse.

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe gently rubbed his hair. “Sleep.”

“Qin Jianhe,” Ye Zhiqiu found a comfortable spot in the hollow of Qin Jianhe’s neck and murmured, half asleep, “you’re a wolf, aren’t you?”

“Mm.” Qin Jianhe didn’t deny it. He took the last drag of the cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, then leaned over and kissed Ye Zhiqiu’s forehead.

“Good night, Ye Zhiqiu,” he said.

This time, Ye Zhiqiu didn’t even flutter an eyelash.

In that short moment, he had already fallen into a deep sleep.

* * * *

At the same time, in Paris, at three in the afternoon, Qi Xin was waiting at the airport.

After hanging up on Jiang Nan, he had been so furious he wanted to call Ye Zhiqiu immediately and demand an explanation.

But then he thought about Ye Zhiqiu’s blocking habit, and he hesitated.

When he calmed down, he suddenly realized that if Ye Zhiqiu asked where he had gotten his information, he wouldn’t be able to answer.

Trying to get confirmation from Ye Zhiqiu at this point would be tantamount to admitting he still had close ties with Jiang Nan.

He broke out in a cold sweat.

After much thought, he forcibly suppressed the urge to contact Ye Zhiqiu and instead booked the earliest flight back.

After a sleepless night, as soon as it was fully light, Qi Xin took his suitcase and took a car back to the airport.

His flight wasn’t until the afternoon, but he was so anxious he couldn’t even wait at the hotel.

Finally, with half an hour left before takeoff, Qi Xin began to mentally construct what he would say to Ye Zhiqiu when he saw him.

No holes.

There couldn’t be any holes.

He thought it over slowly, then suddenly stiffened.

If you’re going to put on an act, you have to do it right. He suddenly realized he had missed a very important环节.

Q.L.’s exhibition group hadn’t arrived yet. If he left now, it would only convey one of two things to others.

Either he had never intended to see Ye Zhiqiu, otherwise he wouldn’t leave before the Q.L. group arrived.

Or, he already knew Ye Zhiqiu was back in the country, which was why he was rushing back so urgently.

He was torn, panicking.

Then he remembered that when he had left the venue area, he had seen many brand groups setting up their displays overnight.

So he went to the service desk, changed his flight, and took a car back to the Paris exhibition venue.

He was lucky. When he arrived, he saw some domestic brands rehearsing.

Qi Xin immediately asked around for news of Q.L.

They were all in the same industry, all exhibiting abroad, and many people in different groups knew each other.

After asking around, he finally learned that the Q.L. group had arrived in Paris that morning.

He immediately went to their hotel. Just as he was getting out of the car at the hotel entrance, he saw a young man carrying a large bag of milk tea and coffee about to go inside.

The man was Asian, and judging by his appearance, likely Chinese.

Knowing Q.L. was staying at this hotel, Qi Xin immediately called out to him.

Meeting a fellow countryman abroad could be comforting. Hearing his native language, Sun Chaoyang stopped and looked over.

“Excuse me, are you with Q.L.?” the man asked.

“Yes.” Sun Chaoyang looked at Qi Xin. “Are you… a journalist?”

“No.” Qi Xin was relieved. “I’m a friend of Ye Zhiqiu. Is he… is he here?”

“Teacher Xiao Ye has already returned to China,” Sun Chaoyang said, finding it a little strange.

This person knew Q.L.’s hotel, but didn’t know Ye Zhiqiu had gone back?

His manner cooled. “How could you be Teacher Xiao Ye’s friend and not know that?”

“Sorry, I wanted to surprise him, so I didn’t contact him before coming,” Qi Xin explained.

Sun Chaoyang didn’t answer. He carried his things into the lobby.

Qi Xin didn’t linger either. He turned and went back to the airport.

He was truly exhausted, but at least he had managed to see someone from Q.L.

The act was complete.

He no longer had to fear Ye Zhiqiu’s questions.

On the flight from China, he had been so excited at the thought of seeing Ye Zhiqiu that he had barely rested.

After landing, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly unblocked him, which had caused another emotional upheaval.

After telling Ye Zhiqiu he had arrived in Paris, he had lain in bed, checking his phone every three minutes, hoping for a reply.

Another sleepless night.

And instead of a message from Ye Zhiqiu, he had gotten a call from Jiang Nan.

Learning that Ye Zhiqiu had already returned to China, his emotions had gone up and down, and he certainly couldn’t sleep.

After a long, exhausting day of rushing around, waiting for a car on the roadside, Qi Xin had almost fainted.

“Are you okay?” the driver asked in French, seeing how pale he was.

Qi Xin didn’t understand, and had to communicate with the driver in halting English.

Finally, he made it back to the airport to wait for his evening flight.

Sitting in the waiting area, he took out his phone to text Ye Zhiqiu.

But calculating the time, it was the middle of the night in China. He put his phone away again.

Then he thought of Tao Ruoqing.

He wasn’t worried about bothering her. He had learned over time that Ye Hongxian wasn’t home seven or eight nights out of ten. So occasionally, she would answer a late-night call.

Especially now that she had invested so much money in him, she had even less reason to refuse his calls.

But after a long hesitation, he didn’t dial.

Since Ye Zhiqiu hadn’t even told him he was back, he suspected he hadn’t told Tao Ruoqing either.

If he called and blew it…

He didn’t dare imagine the consequences.

He didn’t know why he was so afraid of Ye Zhiqiu.

But the more he feared him, the more obsessed he became.

Just thinking about Ye Zhiqiu made his heart race.

Ye Zhiqiu had some kind of magic that made him afraid yet irresistibly drawn.

When the morning sun streamed in, Ye Zhiqiu slowly opened his eyes.

They had messed around for quite a while, but he hadn’t slept late.

After all, they had gotten together right after dinner. Even if it took four hours for two rounds, it was only eleven o’clock when they finished.

Ye Zhiqiu stretched, feeling pleasantly sore all over.

Neatly folded clothes sat on the bedside table. The other side of the bed was already empty.

He reached over. The sheets were still slightly warm.

He lay there for a moment, his hand sinking into that warmth, then pulled on his bathrobe and got out of bed, barefoot.

Opening the bedroom door, he could hear Qin Jianhe’s voice drifting from the kitchen.

Sunlight streamed in from the window, falling on the plastic rose he had given Qin Jianhe, making it look even more vibrant than usual.

Ye Zhiqiu looked at it for a moment, then his gaze moved to the framed rose specimen.

It was even brighter than the specimen.

Much brighter.

He didn’t realize he was smiling. The sun shone on his curved brows and eyes, making him look especially radiant, with a lazy, satisfied air.

Qin Jianhe’s apartment had floor heating. The wooden floor was warm and comfortable under his feet.

Ye Zhiqiu took two silent steps forward and looked down at the faint teeth marks on his own feet, cursing Qin Jianhe in his mind again.

The man was endlessly creative when it came to tormenting him.

He instinctively curled his toes, and the marks became more pronounced with the change in angle.

He’s a dog, Ye Zhiqiu thought.

No, a wolf.

The smell of food drifted out, mingling with Qin Jianhe’s voice on the phone, creating a particularly warm and cozy atmosphere in the sun-filled morning room.

“Bighead carp, please. I want to make fish head,” Qin Jianhe said, a faint smile in his voice.

“Anytime in the next couple of days. No rush.”

He emphasized, “Wild caught.”

“Thank you.”

Ye Zhiqiu paused.

For some reason, at this moment, he thought of his past life, when he had felt insecure and desperately wanted a home of his own.

Back then, the home he dreamed of…

Had it been like this?

Ye Zhiqiu pressed his lips together, frowning slightly.

It was too long ago. After experiencing the longing for home, finding it, cherishing it, watching it shatter, even fearing it, he had actually forgotten what it looked like.